UCLA or University of Illinois, physics

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am the parent of a high school senior struggling with a final decision between the above schools. He will be a physics major. We are Illinois residents so from a financial standpoint, U of I would be the obvious choice. However, the school spirit and beauty of the campus at UCLA was almost overwhelming, making it a tough decision. Has anyone heard that it is difficult to graduate from a Univ. of CA school in 4 years due to difficulty in getting the classes you need to graduate? If this is true, that would be a big downside. Any feedback appreciated. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Saving $100K makes a nice picture too for an equal or better school. Don’t be swayed by some landscaping. I doubt UCLA has better school spirit than UI. Also going out in LA is very expensive and you need a car.</p>

3

<p>U of I has one of the best Physics Depts in the country. Can’t really go wrong.</p>

4

<p>Are you wealthy? If not, don’t waste money on a UC OOS.</p>

<p>However, the school spirit and beauty of the campus at UCLA was almost overwhelming, making it a tough decision</p>

<p>Yes, the Bruins have spirit, but don’t the Illini have spirit as well?</p>

<p>Beauty? No offense, but UCLA crowds too many students on a tiny bit of land and is a concrete jungle. I haven’t seen UIUC in awhile, but it must be rather ugly if you found UCLA’s beauty overwelming.</p>

5

<p>Actually UIUC has a very handsome campus featuring one of the largest college libraries in the US.</p>

<p>[uiuc</a> quad photos - Google Search](<a href=“http://www.google.com/search?q=uiuc+quad+photos&hl=en&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS400US400&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=kHaZT7_NM6Wi2QWJwtWaBA&ved=0CCQQsAQ&biw=1536&bih=639]uiuc”>http://www.google.com/search?q=uiuc+quad+photos&hl=en&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS400US400&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=kHaZT7_NM6Wi2QWJwtWaBA&ved=0CCQQsAQ&biw=1536&bih=639)</p>

6

<p>UIUC’s library system is BETTER than UCLA’s - given that you are in state for UIUC I would go there just don’t let your child get caught up in the dronish frat/sorority climate of UIUC and stay focused.</p>

7

<p>Barrons, thanks for sharing the pics link. If that’s what UIUC is looking like these days, it’s better looking than UCLA.</p>

<p>I’m reminded of another fellow Californian CC poster’s words that said something like…“If you think a Calif university is beautiful, you haven’t seen really beautiful campuses.”</p>

8

<p>Spirit and beauty aside, the UC schools are large publics that have impersonal advising, tend towards large classes, for many profs the focus is not on undergrads, etc. While still a good overall (price/performance ratio) for CA residents, I would never recommend a UC school for an OOS student who is paying full freight (ok, possible exceptions such as an aspiring actress who got into UCLA Theatre, etc).</p>

9

<p>UCLA has one of the best looking college campuses around. Even the students that go there, including myself, still marvel sometimes at how beautiful the campus is. I doubt UIUC could compare.</p>

<p>Exhibit A:
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/Hill_overlooking_men’s_gym,_UCLA.jpg[/url]"&gt;http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/Hill_overlooking_men’s_gym,_UCLA.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Exhibit B:
<a href=“http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/Janss_Steps,_UCLA.jpg[/url]”>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/Janss_Steps,_UCLA.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Exhibit C:
<a href=“http://www.errc.ucla.edu/St/Janss%20Steps.jpg[/url]”>http://www.errc.ucla.edu/St/Janss%20Steps.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Plus, i don’t think it’s exactly fair to make statements contrary to the mother’s opinion. She felt UCLA’s beauty was overwhelming. If she flew all the way over there, it’s likely that she also went to UIUC, and was underamazed by the campus, which wouldn’t be surprising. And her son probably also shared her sentiments, or its doubtful that she wouldn’t be making this post.</p>

<p>You should take note Fairygirl that UCLA for OOS is very expensive. UCLA is a top school, but UIUC isn’t bad either. Your main consideration should be whether your child can afford to attend UCLA without any excess financial strain on your family. UCLA costs 30k a year because it’s worth 30k a year. It’s just subsidized by california which is why it’s so cheap for residents. That shouldn’t dissuade you from coming here though. If it’s affordable, i say go for it. </p>

<p>If it isn’t, go to UIUC. It’s a fine campus, and will provide great opportunities for you and your child.</p>

<p>In response to your last question, the many overachievers that attend UCLA graduate under for years. You have some crazy students, like alum James Franco, take 60 units per quarter! (that’s one third of the total needed to graduate.) I’ve heard more people complaining about finishing too fast than about worrying that they can’t get their classes. I’ve seen more people complain about the unit cap (which limits students to taking classes for around a max. of 5 years) than about not being able to finish on time. Perhaps engineering majors would require + 4 years, but i doubt that physics would.</p>

10

<p>"UCLA costs 30k a year because it’s worth 30k a year. "</p>

<p>You’re not doing the reputation of UCLA any favors with ignorant statements like this. I’ve been to both campus and attended one of them (UCLA) and NO UCLA is NOT worth 30K more per year than UIUC. UIUC also is OUTSTANDING in the hard sciences and BETTER than UCLA in most engineering areas. Also, UCLA’s avg graduation time is closer to 5 years than it is to 4. </p>

<p>Go to UIUC. Signed, a UCLA alum</p>

11

<p>Cost=value??–isn’t that what caused the recent recession.</p>

12

<p>

</p>

<p>A statement that holds true for all the large publics, including UIUC.</p>

13

<p>

</p>

<p>There are many people out there who’d easily choose UCLA to UIUC. Even at that price difference. You might not be one of them, but you’re not the one making the decision, so it’s irrelevent.</p>

<p>I never said UIUC wasn’t outstanding in the hard sciences. And i honestly don’t see the relevence of bringing engineering into the picture since her son isn’t majoring in it. </p>

<p>Also, you’re clearly missing the point if you think the clear reason she should go to UIUC is because they have better programs, or it’s cheaper. She made it clear in her OP that matters other than that are causing her to think about going to UCLA, like the beauty of the campus, and the spirit of the students. </p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Sure, but since we’re talking about physics, we should look at the average graduation time for physics</p>

<p><a href=“11”>quote</a> Degrees to Students Entering
from High School to UCLA
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
% Four Year Graduation 41 69 43 43 71 38 54
% Fifth Year Graduation 33 17 40 29 25 50 37
% Sixth Year Graduation 8 4 9 16 3 11 0
% Beyond Six Years 16 8 6 9 0 0 8
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Avg Registered Quarters at UCLA 13.3 13.0 13.4 14.5 12.6 13.5 12.7
Avg Units Attempted per Quarter 14.3 14.7 14.7 14.3 14.9 14.9 15.1
Avg Units Attempted at UCLA 189 190 197 207 187 201 192
Avg Units on Transcript at Graduation 216 223 228 234 238 229 240
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Avg UC Grade Point Average 3.13 3.39 3.19 3.37 3.41 3.19 3.42

[/quote]
</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.aim.ucla.edu/aprs/aprsrpt_physics.txt[/url]”>http://www.aim.ucla.edu/aprs/aprsrpt_physics.txt&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>So, the answer is it’s possible to graduate in 4 years, and many do, sometimes the majority, but it also isn’t uncommon for students to stay a 5th year. Dilligents students can, and do, finish within four years though. And they’re not limited by the university in trying to do so.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>go to UCLA if it’s financially feasable. Signed, a (soon to be) UCLA alum :rolleyes:</p>

14

<p>

Exactly!! And that’s why I can’t fathom why so many people want to pay the UC OOS cost when they can get essentially the same education for tens of thousands less per year at their in-state public.</p>

15

<p>Let me clarify what I meant by school spirit and beauty of the campus. At both visits, we saw great school spirit. At U of I, we saw many people wearing orange Illini t-shirts and heard only positive things from the student body. The best way I can describe UCLA was that the people there were more like “congratulations, you’re one of us now. You’re part of an exclusive group- you’re a Bruin for life - and we want you to be part of us”. That was the difference. Is that the kind of national/international reputation UCLA has? I’m not sure. Regarding the campus, of course U of I has a pretty campus. I wouldn’t deny it. But Urbana, IL just does not compare in any way to LA, sorry. So the way I see it, that’s what it comes down to. I think at the high school there’s a lot more juice to telling people you’re going to UCLA than Urbana. Yes, it will be more money, but we are willing to stretch our dime if he wants it so much that he will fly back and forth to LA for it. There are other issues like friends going to Illinois and quarter vs. semester schedule also. Thank you so much everyone for your insight.</p>

16

<p>

</p>

<p>Words fail …</p>

17

<p>At instate prices… UIUC, no doubt. UIUC also has an EXCELLENT physics program.</p>

18

<p>

</p>

<p>Yes UCLA has that effect. Although it’s probably strongly more international than national. </p>

<p>[“Even</a> my friends and my teachers were shocked that I got into UCLA!”](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/14197456-post1.html]"Even”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/14197456-post1.html)</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>It’s probably true that UCLA has more of a ‘wow-factor’ than UIUC does. But something i think is true is that, the older your son gets, the less important that wow factor will be for him. Some parents do like bragging that one of their sons went to Berkeley, and the other to UCLA (e.g. my dad.) but imo that’s not something that should be a deciding factor in choosing a university. You should seek something like fit, or perhaps diversity.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>You sound like a very caring parent. But i’m serious about the financial point. There’s a huge difference between managing your income differently to pay for school, and taking out tens of thousands of dollars in loans to do so. I’d only recommend going to UCLA if your son is able to do the former. You don’t want him to get into the nightmare of debt.</p>

<p>NYU students are notoriously famous for this:</p>

<p>[Casualties</a> Of Debt: NYU Students, Andrew Jenks Rally Against Student Loan Debt](<a href=“HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost”>Casualties Of Debt: NYU Students, Andrew Jenks Rally Against Student Loan Debt | HuffPost College)</p>

19

<p>* I think at the high school there’s a lot more juice to telling people you’re going to UCLA than Urbana. *</p>

<p>Ha…so you’re going to pay tens of thousands more so that for the next month or so your child can impress his high school pals. Wow… you’ve got money to burn. Congrats that you’re that affluent!</p>

20

<p>

Probably a one percenter…</p>

<p>There are 2 Americas, and hard as it may be to fathom that’s not an unreasonable purchase in theirs.</p>